Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are known as "Government sponsored enterprises" or GSEs. Because of their ability to raise funds at advantageous rates, due to the government sponsorship, they over-stimulated the housing market to unheard of heights by buying mortgages originated by banks nationwide. Now, as these hallmark institutions of government manipulation of the housing market fail, the failure of government itself becomes ever more evident. The attempt to restore the GSEs cannot hide their failure from anyone who looks. That failure is already registered in the financial markets. Once a $90 stock, FNM is now a $10 stock. And FRE has fallen from over $70 to $7. The stocks have drastically slumped because of the bad investments of the GSEs in mortgages, investments urged on and subsidized by longstanding policies of the Federal government.

I quickly went here for Fannie Mae and there for Freddie Mac. As you can see, both "GSEs" have fallen even further (as of this writing FNM=Last Trade: 7.07 Trade Time: 4:00PM ET and FRE=Last Trade: 5.26 Trade Time: 4:01PM ET). so being the curious Paranoid that I am, I decided to look back a few years and took a real hard look at the prices one year ago- FNM was at $65.84 and FRE at $61.60 and both were priced higher over the past two years. These prices can be seen and verified by looking at the charts that Yahoo provides.

Now, as I looked at those charts and spanning back to the peaks of both of these stocks, I recalled a post from four years ago about this very subject (that Mr. Sharkey had pointed me to). After re-reading it, I think it to be very worthwhile reading- again. Here is part of the post:

Derivatives (highly leveraged and enormously risky instruments such as interest-rate futures, options and swaps) now total $180 trillion, 17 times the GDP. Warren Buffet calls derivatives "instruments of mass destruction". Many financial institutions have become highly invested in derivatives. Government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae (the Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp) use derivatives heavily. Because of the inherent nature of derivatives, these instruments and those using them are extremely sensitive even to small and moderate interest-rate increases.

The entire article is worth reading once more just as the links are worth reading and hearing again too as the warnings have been visible for years and many men warned us- most chose to ignore it, and still do. I have not done all I can, but damned if I have not tried.

13 July, 2008

PHILADELPHIA/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc (NYSE:BUD - News) agreed to a $50 billion takeover by Belgium-based InBev NV (Brussels:INTB.BR - News), a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday, creating the world's largest beer maker.

InBev, the maker of Stella Artois, and Budweiser-brewer Anheuser were not immediately available to comment.

The combined company will be called Anheuser-Busch InBev, said the source, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. Anheuser will get seats on the new company's board, the source said, but it was not immediately clear how many.

The deal brings an amicable resolution to a month-long saga that was becoming increasingly hostile as the two companies sued each other and InBev set the stage to try to replace Anheuser's board of directors.

InBev had proposed its own slate of nominees for the board that included Adolphus Busch IV, an uncle of the current chief executive of Anheuser-Busch.

InBev lured Anheuser to the bargaining table last week by raising its offer to $70 per share from $65 per share, a 27 percent premium over Anheuser's record-high stock price in October 2002.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.— Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

And with the last thought it flowered into the reminder that soon enough, I am sure we will hear:

12 July, 2008

"I said something the other day down in Georgia, and the Republicans jumped on this. I said, you know, absolutely immigrants need to learn English, but we also need to learn foreign languages," he said Friday.

Obama told the crowd that this is one of the problems with politics today.

"This is an example of some of the problems we get into when somebody attacks you for saying the truth, which is we should want children with more knowledge. We should want our children to have more skills. There's nothing wrong with that! It’s a good thing," he said.

While the Obama campaign says that Obama speaks a little bit of Indonesian, Obama himself admits that he isn't bilingual.

"I know because I don’t speak a foreign language. It's embarrassing!" he said.

Why be embarrassed Mr. Foreigner? Unless of course you realized that you admitted your intentions of working towards creating a bi-lingual nation and we Americans do not want it, eh Mr. Foreigner?

As for this statement by your staff Mr. Foreigner:

The Obama campaign reiterated Friday that Obama would continue to require immigrants to learn English to be eligible for citizenship.

Perhaps they need to understand this Mr. Foreigner, that YOU have NO say so over the requirements, or haven't they, or even you, ever read the Constitution and laws of these united States? Let me give you a hint Mr. Foreigner, the language it is in is English.

Barack Obama's planned visit to Europe later this month has thrust him into a diplomatic kerfuffle that threatens to undercut one of the cornerstones of his foreign policy: the notion that, unlike President Bush, he will listen to and work harmoniously with governments allied with the United States.

The controversy began when word leaked that the Obama campaign, during the candidate’s first trip abroad as the presumptive Democratic nominee, was considering Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate as the backdrop for a major address on transatlantic relations.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she opposes the idea, referring to the highly symbolic landmark as an "inappropriate" setting for a speech linked to a domestic American political campaign.

Why is it that the only one saying so is a German? Why aren't Americans asking WHY ANY candidate would go overseas to campaign for the office of the President of these united States? In fact, why would any American say this?

"Obviously Brandenburg is the sexiest option," the official said, but it would "undermine the message that Obama can work with U.S. allies and offers McCain evidence of Obama's diplomatic inexperience."

The Democratic official also said that wherever Obama speaks, "it will be probably the biggest pure campaign event ever held outside the United States" and that it would be "absolutely significant" because it’s taking "campaigning to a public gathering overseas."

Mr. Foreigner is not the only one who has traveled overseas, but I cannot find where Mr. McCrazy tried to speechify to the foreigners. However, we have to read comments such as this one from him:

09 July, 2008

No, the only concern is that my children speak English fluently, succinctly, with grace, charm and eloquence. Then, once this is done, if they desire to learn other languages, they have my blessing (as no one else’s is required- certainly not yours Mr. Foreigner) to do so.

If you Mr. Foreigner cannot grasp this, then perhaps you need to take a close look at EXACTLY what language the Founding Fathers spoke, wrote and conversed in daily in and of these united States.

Further, just how fluent are you in French, German, Italian, Spanish or any other European languages Mr. Foreigner? Oh, and understand this, passable Bahasa does not count.

Before you start moralizing once again to us Americans Mr. Foreigner, why don't you prove you are even an American to begin with.

04 July, 2008

And it made me think of just how far most people in this country have let slip their desire for freedom and liberty- so much so, that I remembered this:

Then, two days ago, my compadre No-Neck sent this to me:

I knew this would be true and I thought long and hard about these men:

The men, whose history is unknown my so many- and cared for by even less, gave us our start on this path and that so many of the men of their day were willing to do this:

Understand, they were traitors to their government, they conspired to commit acts that would bring certain death down upon them and their families, and I must ask, how many are willing, today, to risk the same?

Vin Suprynowicz has a column that has been around the net since he first wrote it in 1997, and it is well worth reading and then contemplating, particularly in light of recent laws, regulations and SCOTUS announcements.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.? That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, ? That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.? Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

* He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. * He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. * He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. * He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. * He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. * He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. * He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. * He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. * He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. * He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. * He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. * He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. * He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: * For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: * For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: * For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: * For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: * For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: * For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences * For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: * For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: * For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. * He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. * He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. * He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation. * He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. * He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.